Second Marin gun surrender event nets 29 weapons

Christian Lyndes laid his pistol down at the Marin County firearm surrender event held at the Mill Valley Police Department Monday — even though he received no money for it. Because, he said, "it's in a good cause."

The Mill Valley resident was one of 22 people who showed up between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., giving up a total of 29 weapons. The buyback event of Jan. 15 six days earlier netted 827 firearms, so many that all five Marin stations ran out of money, leaving vouchers to be handed out instead.

Those who showed up Monday didn't even get a voucher. But that didn't stop them from participating.

"It felt like the right thing to do," said Lyndes. "It's MLK (Martin Luther King Jr.) Day, and there was the mass shooting that happened on the East Coast," referring to the Connecticut elementary school shootings last month that killed 20 children and six adults.

Lyndes had expected to get $200 for his .40-caliber semiautomatic Smith & Wesson, but still turned it in after learning no money was offered.

While not as many people showed up Monday, putting 29 more firearms out of commission is still a win, said Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian, who was on hand at the police station on Hamilton Drive Monday.

"We had one AR-15 turned in (Monday). That's the kind of gun we want. Semiautomatic assault weapons have no use for sport and are really not useful for anything else but killing, in my opinion. These weapons are made for sale to the military," Berberian said.

Getting guns out of peoples' homes also helps keep them off the street, the district attorney said. "Guns are one of the things people steal when they break into houses, and then they are put to criminal use."

Berberian launched the gun buyback program after the Sandy Hook shooting, timing it to coincide with the birth date of Martin Luther King Jr.

As Berberian was speaking, Leon Huntting showed up at the police station with a cardboard box containing two guns, one of which was a Glock.

"We have enough violence in our society. We have a responsibility to get guns off the street," said Huntting, a former Sausalito city councilmember. "These guns belonged to my stepfather, who left these in a safe when he passed away. I think he would want me to do this."

Asked by a media representative how he would defend himself if someone broke into his home, Huntting said, "We have a killer cat."

Huntting knew he wouldn't get any money for the guns, but turned them in anyway. In fact, he is working to raise funds to help fund the $61,000 that's needed to redeem the vouchers given out last Tuesday.

"I've been making calls to my friends. I'll be on the phone later today," Huntting said.

"I'm feeling good about meeting our voucher obligations," said Berberian. Already, $2,000 in contributions has arrived in the mail, he said.

"The Marin Community Foundation, which administers the Buck Trust, is coming through with $15,000. That's on top of the $20,000 they already gave toward the original $43,000 we raised," the district attorney said.

"I'm talking to county supervisors and we hope to get some more money from the county," Berberian said.

"There is a hotline people can call to get an update on how the redemption process works," he said. "They can call (415) 473-2727 or visit the Marin County website," Berberian said.

Meanwhile, Peter Rice of Mill Valley arrived with a .22-caliber automatic rifle. He knew he wouldn't be compensated for turning in the weapon, he said.

"I just wanted to get it out of my house," the Mill Valley resident said. "People are giving up guns that hurt other people. I'm hoping they will just melt the guns."

In fact, that is exactly what will happen, said Robert Guidi, the chief inspector for the district attorney's office.

"They will be melted down at a facility in the East Bay," Guidi said.

As each gun was surrendered, police put its muzzle into something called a "safe tank," basically a metal sheath, so if it discharged accidentally, no one would be hurt. The officers then checked the gun to see if it was loaded, then attached a label to it, recorded the gun on a sheet of paper and put it into a huge grey plastic garbage can.

Asked if the weapons surrender program was doing any good, Huntting said, "It gives us unity in trying to stop the violence. The fewer guns we have, the better. We are the most violent society on earth."